Outlook Money Outlook Money, April 2018 | Page 21

Bajaj Allianz Offers Missed Call Facility For Travel Insurance Private general insurer Bajaj Allianz General Insurance has introduced a missed call facility for its travel insurance customers. The company is the first in the insurance industry to extend such a service, where customers can receive comprehensive assistance and information while abroad. The objective behind the launch is to provide “prompt and relevant assistance in times of need”, according to a spokesperson from the company. The missed call facility will initially be available in English and Hindi. “We are always exploring avenues to enhance customer engagement and provide them instant insurance solutions,” said Sasikumar Adidamu, Chief Technical Officer, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance. “This missed call facility is a step towards being there for the customer when they need us the most, and provide them with immediate assistance to solve major causes of concern while travelling overseas.” ‘Digital Transactions In India Could Be $1 Trillion Per Annum By 2025’ B y 2025, digital transactions in India could be worth $1 trillion annually, a white paper released by ACI Worldwide, a provider of electronic payment and banking solutions, and AGS Transact Technologies (AGSTTL) has said. According to the paper, digital transactions in India will account for four out of every five transactions. It also identified UPI (Unified Payments Interface) transactions as a key driver for digital payments in India’s banking and fintech industry. According to Manish Patel, Vice President, ACI Worldwide, “India is undergoing an incredible transformation driven by the rapid digitisation of payments. The findings of our new research reinforce our view that flexible, scalable and reliable technology will be critical to the future of payments in India as the market continues to experience incredible growth.” The research paper highlighted that India’s smartphone user base will likely double to 500 million by 2020. Furthermore, the user base for digital transactions in India could triple to 300 million by 2020 as digital transactions grow in rural and semi- urban areas. The current user base is close to 90 million. It observed that mass adoption of e-payments and a thriving fintech industry combined with regulatory policy are set to propel India into a leading position in the global payments landscape. But the research paper also cautioned against parallel rise of cyber attacks with the growth of digitisation and its cost to India. According to the research, the cost of cyber security in India, which is currently estimated to be $4 billion annually, could rise to $20 billion by 2025. Suyash Desai www.outlookmoney.com April 2018 Outlook Money 19